Chapter 5
Echo doesn't like Felix just because he flirted with her.
Thank you!
I was being sarcastic.
I definitely knew that.

[Oliver]

Remember what I said about camping? Well, my opinion is still the same.

For those past three days we had been living in the woods because everything was lost in the fire except for the weapons hidden in the barn, which were two bows, two pairs of twin daggers and two simple ones.

Felix showed us how to use the bow, but I wasn't made for it so he showed me how to handle a dagger.

Celine was better with the twin ones, so she didn't really share.

When I asked them how they knew how to use these, they just shrugged. Apparently, farmers in Imyrth use those a lot.

Echo was better with the bow, but I wasn't sure if she tried too much just to spend more time with Felix.

Of course she liked him just because he flirted with her. She is not used to being liked.

Celine had calmed down a bit. She was still a bit of a mess, and with good reasons, and Felix looked like he coped, even though it wasn't really true.

I guess he and my sister have that in common.

I have to say I felt guilty about what had happened. I was a bit of a coward.

Not regarding the fire. No teenager on his right minds would run into a burning building. I am talking about the Queen hunting us.

If we had surrendered from the beginning, none of this would have happened.

Celine would still have her parents and she and Felix would still have a home. Because of me and my sister, they are now living in the woods with the two people that ruined their lives.

The barn, apart from weapons, had also three tents, so we didn't sleep outside with the mosquitoes. The bad news? I had to share with Echo, who can't stay still at night due to her insomnia. She gets in and out of the tent ten times an hour and in the morning she is always asleep next to the fire.

That girl lives to make my life a living hell, but then again, what are sisters for?

There were also some savings, which we spent on a change of clothes and food.

Another weird thing was that no guards had come after us, so either Queen Deidre got what she wanted (the necklace), or she was luring us to go get them. Either way, it was trouble, because as long as had the compass we couldn't go back home.

«Hold... the... bloody... dagger... firmly!» Celine told me. Day four had started and it wasn't any better than the others.

«I am hopeless.» I sighed in frustration. I am no fighter, what the hell am I trying to prove?

«That's not what I meant.» she apologized.

«No, it is. I am a peacemaker, not a warrior. I am in no place to go fight the bloody Queen of another dimension to go back home! This sounds like a bloody TV drama!»

«Look, I know you want to go home, believe me, I do. But at least you have a chance; I don't even have a home to go back to. Maybe if you try a bit harder--» she spoke calmly.

«I need a break.» I interrupted her and walked away.

«Oliver, wait.» she tried.

«No, this isn't who I am! I'm sorry, but that's not me. Echo might be enjoying learning how to fight, but I don't.»

«It's not me you should be apologizing to; it's yourself. My life- it can't get any worse, but you have a bloody chance at going home and, by the looks of it, you are more than unwilling to take it. So what's it gonna be? Will you sit here and watch your sister try and fail all alone and for you, or will you get up, help her and go home?» I just stared at her. She is kinda cute when she is mad. Did I say that out loud? «I thought so.» she added when I didn't reply. «Now hold the bloody dagger firmly!»

This was going to be a long day...

After hours of training, I still had achieved nothing but bruises and a really frustrated Celine.

«I don't get it... You should have at least hit me once, even by luck! What is wrong with you?» she sighed desperately.

«I don't know. Maybe I just don't hit girls.» I smirked.

«What a gentleman.» she scowled and punched me gently in the arm.

«Shut up...» I laughed.

«Oh, I am just getting started. If I had to teach a cow how to fight, she would have fought me. You are no different, so why the hell are you holding back?» I thought about it. Honestly, I had no idea. There was a little part of me that wanted to stay to Imyrth, but that wasn't the right thing to do. My mom would be worried sick; I couldn't just leave her for some people I had just met. She was my mom for God's sake. «Hey! Are you there?»

«Yeah, sorry. I got lost in thought.»

«Okay..?»

«Don't sweat it, really. I'm fine.» but I really wasn't. I was confused and frustrated and a million other synonyms and I didn't even know why. These were some of the worst and best (at the same bloody time days of my life and they weren't even home. I could see why Echo didn't want to leave. She had found a place that was home to her more than the villa back to earth. It just wasn't who she was.

«Yeah, okay.» she replied, clearly not believing me.

Before I could reply, my sister and Felix approached us laughing. Her face had flushed red and she looked happier than she had ever looked since dad died. That made me feel even more guilty; I was the one that wanted to go home and I was going to have to make her come. It would be unfair to her. She didn't deserve it.

But I still had to. What was I going to tell mom? I am pretty far from a liar (the exact opposite of Echo, really). I am not one to break the rules. 

«Hello, it's me.» my sister laughed.

«And me. Don't forget about me.» Felix added and she laughed harder. Apparently, she found it funny laughing when people didn't get she was quoting Adele.

«How did you do, little sis?» I asked her.

«I am older and judging from Celine's face, I am pretty sure I did better than you.» she stung her tongue out at me and sat on a log of wood.

«Whatever, kiddo.» I replied and she rolled her eyes.

«Shut up, you are the little one.»

«So, how did you do? You didn't tell me.» I questioned hoping she did worse than I  did.

«I--»

«She did great for a starter.» we heard Felix from a little further.

«Thanks, but I can speak for myself!» Echo yelled back so he could hear her.

«What's up with you two flirting all the time?» I asked her and she choked.

«Flirting?! Is that what you call it?» she laughed after she took a couple deep breaths.«Please warn before you say something this stupid. It is not flirting, it is called socializing making friends.»

«Maybe you didn't flirt with him, but he definitely did. That's why you like him.»

«What?! I don't like him, not like that! And even if I did, it wouldn't be because he flirted with me.»

«Yeah, right.»

«Oliver, I will murder you in your bloody sleep.» she hissed gritting her teeth.

«No, you won't. You love me way too much.»

«That's why I will murder you in your sleep and not while you're awake, you dummy, because I love you! If you had been anyone else, I would torture you first.» she said with a fake smile and the most fake, sweet voice I have ever heard. I gulped while she got up and left. She was probably going back to Felix.

Or that's what I thought until she came up behind me and started hitting me with a twig. She wasn't hitting hard, obviously it was just for fun, but it surely hurt.

«Echo... Jewel... Waters... I will bloody... kill you!» I grunted every time she hit me. She kept laughing like a maniac, until I turned around and got hold of the bloody twig.

«Oops!» she hugged me. I shook my head and hugged her back.

«You liar! You said you would kill me in my sleep, not in my wake.» I told her.

«Did you really  think I would make an exception for you? You are dumber than I thought little bro.» she muttered.

«How many times--»

«Shh... Don't ruin the moment, I am hugging you.» Echo whispered.

«It's not the first time--»

«And the moment is ruined..!» she smiled and let go.

«You are crazy, and not the kind of crazy mom thinks you are.»

«Well, that's the kind of crazy I wanna be, so I can annoy her.»

«What did you do?»

«Nothing, I am just happy! Don't I deserve it?»

«You are not eating any more berries.» I laughed.

«I'm gonna go take a nap...» she yawned and went in the tent to sleep.

My sister is going to be the end of me... That, or I will be the end of her. We might never know...

But I love that mad girl anyway.

Celine went to sleep too, so I had to keep watch with Felix.

«She likes you, you know.» he said out of the blue.

«What?» I asked in confusion.

«Celine. Had you been anyone else, she would have stabbed you. She is not the patient kind of person, and as far as I could tell, you are not the fastest learner.»

«Why are you telling me this?» the more Felix talked the more confused I got.

«No reason. Just trying to help.» Oh, no. He knew. I tried to keep my cool.

«Help how?»

«Oh, don't do the whole "I don't know what's you're talking about" thing to me. I am no idiot.»

«I am no idiot either.» I smirked.

«Uh...»

«Don't do the whole "I don't know what you're talking about" thing to me.»

«Touche, Waters.»

«I will murder you.» I told him seriously. That caught him off guard.

«What?» he laughed awkwardly.

«Hurt my sister and I will murder you.» I repeated. He gulped.

We stayed quiet after for a little bit.

«I am not that kind of person.» he said after a while.

«I don't doubt it. When it happens accidentally, it's the worst.»

«I get it, she is your sister, you feel protective over her. That's exactly how I feel about my cousin, so the same goes for you. Hurt her, and you are done.»

«Glad we can be clear with each other.» I sighed.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Felix apart from the fact that he is flirting with my sister. She doesn't usually open up to people, and ever since he showed up they have been inseparable.

It is my job, as Echo's big brother, to freak out when she likes someone.

A few hours later, when Echo woke up, I realised how exhausted I was, but I let Felix go to sleep instead. It was about time I spent some extra time with my sister like we used to.

Dammit, Echo. Why can't you see what I give up for you?